Tag: BECCA

I’m very excited, because I recently got offered a new job, and today is my first day. With that, I wanted to talk a little today about what makeup is appropriate for a professional setting. While it does depend some on the kind of work you do and your office setting, the type of makeup that is acceptable is generally consistent.

When it comes to lip colors, I like to stay with nudes and neutrals or mauves. Red is sometimes acceptable depending on your field, but I would usually stay away from anything too dark or too bright. I like a good gloss, because it’s easy to apply throughout the day, it keeps my lips from drying out, and they usually aren’t terribly bright. Mattes are also a great option, especially if you can find one that lasts all day. One of my friends has had really good results with Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink, and I will definitely be checking some of their colors out soon.

For eyeshadow, again you probably want to stay with lighter colors or something more neutral. I would keep away from anything that is going to be too bright or distracting, because you want people to pay attention to your work and what you have to say, rather than your makeup. I would also recommend choosing something matte or that has a slight shimmer, rather than anything that’s glittery. I like to use ULTA’s colored eyeshadow primers, because they last quite a while and offer a good pigment without being overwhelming. I have a peach gold and a rose gold that both look good, have a slight shimmer, and really bring out the blue in my eyes, which I’m always a fan of.

When you’re in the office, you may not get much opportunity to touch up your makeup, so you’ll want to find ways to make it last. I recommend finding a good primer that works for your skin type and using a setting powder when you’re done. These two things will help keep your makeup in place, so you won’t have to worry about any touchups. I have several primers that I really like. BECCA Backlight Priming Filter is great, albeit a little expensive, as is Benefit’s Porefessional. For drugstore primers, I like NYX #NoFilter Blurring Primer and Maybelline’s Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. For setting powder, I just use ULTA’s mineral setting powder.

Overall, keep it on the simple side, and you should definitely be safe. What are your favorite makeup tips for professional settings?

Good morning! I am very excited for this evening because I’m finally getting a night out with some of my girls. It’s been far too long, because we’re all adults and have our own lives now. However, every once in a while, we like to get together at our favorite bar downtown, have a couple drinks, sing some karaoke, and just let loose a little. Today, I’m going to talk about one of my favorite makeup looks for going out.

To start, I like to use BECCA’s backlight priming filter, because it gives my skin a nice glow. Then, I add my foundation. Currently, I’m using CoverGirl Tru Match, which is a drugstore brand, but I really like it. Next, I contour with a matte bronzer from Ulta. I put this under my cheeks, at my jawline, and on the sides of my nose. I know some people do their forehead as well, but I usually don’t. Next I use Tarte’s live boldly blush, pictured in the photo above. I just sweep on a little to give my face some color. Finally, I highlight with Tarte’s posse, also pictured in the above photo.

That is traditionally my routine for my everyday makeup, which I also follow when going out, because I like the way I look in it. Playing with my eye makeup is where I like to have more fun than with my everyday makeup. For this eye look, I use Tarte’s Double Duty Beauty Palette, an Ulta black eyeliner pencil, Ulta eye primer in satin blush, and No.7 mascara. Start with Ulta eye primer in satin blush, which is a really pretty rose gold color. I like to use this for my primer, because it layers easily, but I can also wear it alone. Next, I use a large eyeshadow brush to add date night (top left) all over my lid up to my brow bone. Then, with a small, flat brush, I dab messy bun (one to the right) in the center of my lid. On either side of that, I dab glam girl (in between date night and blush), so my eyelids have three color blocks for the moment. Once that is done, I sweep a little bit of girl code (next to glam girl) into the lid. Finally, I blend it all, so it looks seamless and add a little eyeliner. I can never pull off a winged look, because my eyelids are too thin, so I just put a small line. I finish with my No.7 mascara.

Finally, I choose my lip color. Currently, I’m wearing NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake, but I may switch to something a little bolder when the time comes to actually get ready for the night. I like dark lipsticks, especially in winter, so I may pull one of those out tonight. What are your favorite going out lip colors or looks? Let me know in the comments, and have a great weekend!

My husband keeps asking me what I want for Christmas, and I’m the worst because I honestly have no idea. The only things I wanted I gave on a list to both of our parents, because they tend to press the issue a little more. It has, however, gotten me thinking about my makeup wish list, which I would give my husband, but he doesn’t quite understand the makeup world yet, although he is learning. It’s really sweet.

One thing I’ve been looking for is a quality highlighter. I like my BECCA Backlight Priming Filter, so I imagine I would like their highlighter, too, but I haven’t tried it yet. I also saw that Ulta has Stila highlighters on sale today for 50% off, and I’ve had good results with Stile products before. I generally just use Ulta’s brand highlighters, which work okay, but I want to change it up a little, and I’m not sure which products I should look at. The problem is, I don’t really know what I want out of a highlighter that I’m not getting; I think it’s just something that I’ll know it when I see it.

Another thing I want, which I can’t find in any store, is to be better at applying my eyeliner. I do fine with everyday wear, but I can’t figure out how to do those really glamorous wings that everyone posts pictures of. It’s probably got some to do with the kind of eyeliner I wear, because I mostly use pencils or gel pencils, and I think you have to use liquid eyeliner to get that. Maybe one day I’ll find a liquid eyeliner that doesn’t terrify me.

Finally, I’d love some mascara that doesn’t flake or clump. I don’t even wear it most days, because it gets in my eyes. I have a No. 7 mascara that is the best I’ve found so far. The flaking is minimal, and it clumps way less than most of my other mascaras, but it would still be nice if I could put some on without the fear of having it flake down into my eyes. Usually ones that don’t flake end up clumping, and the ones that don’t clump will flake.

If anyone has any suggestions for my makeup wish list, I would love to hear them. Be one of Santa’s helpers this year and help me mark off my list. What’s on your makeup wish list?

It can be so frustrating to look in the mirror at lunch time to see the makeup you put on 4-5 hours ago is already melting off. How do we keep this from happening? There are several steps you can take to keep from having to reapply your makeup, and none of them add much time to your routine.

Start your makeup routine with moisturizer. Not only is this better for your skin’s health, it keeps your skin from absorbing any of the products you’ll add later. I like to use Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil Free Moisturizer. It’s made from bamboo and aloe to keep your skin soft and oil free. It’s $7 at Ulta, and I like the way it smells and feels on my face.

After moisturizing, use a face primer. There are a bunch of primers that have different effects, but my favorites are the blurring or backlighting primers. Primers help smooth out your face to make your foundation go on smoother and stay on longer. BECCA has a Backlight Priming Filter that is pretty expensive for a full-size, but I love it. It smells amazing and gives your skin a nice glow. It’s $38 for the full-size bottle, but Ulta currently has a travel duo that includes a 0.5oz primer and a 0.12oz of their Mineral Blush for $15. This way, you can test it out for a low price before you buy a full bottle, and you get to try some of their blush, too.

Prime your eye makeup, as well. Ulta has some eye primers both in matte nude and some colors that you can wear on their own if you want. If you put eye primer down, it gives your eye shadow something to stick to, so it won’t melt down into your eyes or gather in your crease. Ulta’s eyeshadow primers are $12, but you don’t have to use much, so they last a while. Also, use your ring finger to apply it, because it gives a lighter touch, which is safer for your eyes.

The last step you’ll want to take is adding setting powder. This is a translucent powder you can quickly apply all over your face to keep your makeup in place all day. I’ve only ever used Ulta’s brand mineral setting powder, because I got it for free in one of their promotional makeup bags, but it works pretty well and goes on lightly. The full-size container is $14, and you’ll want to use the biggest brush you have to put it on. Just sweep a small amount all over your face, and you’re good to go!

By following these steps, hopefully your mid-day frustrations of seeing your makeup coming off will no longer be an issue. These few extra steps aren’t very time-consuming, and they can actually save you time by keeping you from having to reapply during the day. If anyone knows of any other tips that can help, please feel free to comment or leave me a message.